Planoqraph co



0. OHLSON.

COUPLING RELEASE FOR MECHANICAL TIME Fusts.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. I918.

Patented July 8 lwvew'iowi 02 away k %0rn@;ya.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

OLQF OHLSON, or NEWTON, MAssAoHuS-ETTS, ASSIGNOR To WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY, or WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHU- SETTS.

' ton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coupling-Releases for "Mechanical Time-Fuses, of which the fol- V lowing is a specification.

=The. present invention relates to mechanical time fuses for artillery projectiles and similar uses which include a timing member I so called, a setting member, and a coupling under propulsion of the motor.

which elapses between the firing of the shell from a gun and the detonation of the shell is through which the timing member may be 1 v I adjusted by movement of the setting mem- A her. In instruments of this character the so 7 called timing member is driven by a motor mechanism, such as a spring motor, an air 7 motor driven by the Wind created by the flight of the shell to which the fuse is at- V ftached, a gravity motor driven by a weight I which remains relatively stationary while the shell rotates, or other motor. The fuse mechanism also includes a hammer or firing pin, or other detonating instrumentality, which is caused by a spring or other contrivance to ignite a primer when a certain part of the timing member reaches a predetermined position in the course of its travel The time 7 determined by preliminary adjustment of the timing member which reduces or lengthens the distance it must travel under the .drive of the motor to reach the position wherein it permits actuation of the hammer or firing pin. For a complete descriptionof sucha fuse, and especially the type of fuse to which I have herein illustrated my pres- .40v

" w'. rooted to my pending application for United ent invention as applied, reference is di- States Patent Serial Number 206,278, filed December 8, 1917.'

The feature with which the present invention is concerned is a means for automatically causing disconnection of the coupling through which motion is transmitted to the f timing member from the setting member. :fi -Heretofore there has been applied to mechanical time fuses a form of coupling which 7 V is carried by the setting member in the same plane with: the rotatable timing member or I .disk and having a part entering a notch in V. the rim of such timing disk; such coupling being of resilient material and adapted to be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed April 23, 1918. Serial No. 230,264.

coupling of the sort described, having the necessary strength and firmness, maybe thus disengaged by the centrifugal force generated by the spinning of a shell of small caliber propelled at high velocity, the force generated by the much slower rate of spinning of large caliber shells is not .suflicient to cause this disengagement. It is essential, of course, that the timing disk should be disengaged from the coupling in order that it may be driven by the motor.

The purpose of my invention is to provide in connection with a coupling of the general character herein described, a means which will "automatically cause it to become disconnected as soonas the projectile is fired, and regardless of the rate of rotation at which the projectile is 7 caused to spin. Briefly stated the essential feature of the invention comprises a coupling which is under stress, or is adapted to be put under stress, tending to cause its disengagement from one of the two elements constituted by the setting member and'the timing member, and a retainer which normally holds it in secure engagement with that member from which it is disengageable, such retainer being rendered inoperative for this purpose by force set into action When the shell is fired.

In thedrawings wherein I have illustrated a satisfactory embodiment of the invention, Figure l is an elevation of an entire time fuse containing such invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig. land a planof the parts lying below occupying different position from shown in Fig.

' Fig.1 5 is a sectional View, on taken" on line 55 of Fig. 3 showing'a detail;

- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the coupling detached from the rest of the fuse.

Figs. 7 and 8 are elevations from positions at right angles to'one another of the. d1s-' V placeable coupling retainer. y

The same reference characters indicate the 7 same partsin all the figures.

Referring to the drawings 10 represents the base of the fuse which is constructed so that it may be mounted on the tip end of a projectile 11 is the part which forthe'pur posesof this description I have calledthe setting member, the same being a ring or an:

nulus coaxial with the 'base and mounted thereon in a. manner permitting it to I be turned about its axis,'preferably in the man ner illustrated more in detail in my pending application Serial Number 210,494 filed 7 January 5, 1918. This setting memberhas external graduations Y for showing the extent of its adjustments. 12 represents :a cap mounted-on the settingmem'ber and being of substantially conical 'form Referring to Fig. '2, 13' represents the timing member,

which is here-:shown as-a disk'and'will be hereinafter so 1 called, the same being 7 vmounted on astaff 14 driven by asprlng -motor,andbeing adjustableabout said staff.

1 This timing disk-:ha's anotch 15 initsgpe- 'riphe'ry which, when it arrives opposlte to a' finge'r 16'0n a release lever ;17, allows the firing pin or hammer .to operate,,in a manner preferably such as that shown-in my application Serial Number 206,278, previ-l Vously referred to.- When driven by the' motor,the timing fdisk rotates in the 'directionfof the arrow, and the time fromithei pmoment of firing-to the moment of detonation'is determined'by the extent of the angle. from notch15 in this direction to the finger 16; and the'degree of the angle maybe varied by adjustment ofthedislrthrough turning the setting member 11. [Adjusting movements of the'setting member are trans mitted to the timing disk'b'y' a couplingi18," here shown as a spring strip rigidly.- secured at one end by 'fastenings 19 to anuinternal"; surface of the setting member, and having.

' on'its free end a tongue 20 which enters a notch 21in the" rim of the timingidisk at such an abrupt angle to the J circumference" v ofthe-same that it is effective to move the timing disk in either directionwhen the settingmember'is correspondingly turned.

This couplingtherefore is connected to one of the members constituted by the-setting memberandthe timing disk, in a per manent manner, and is engaged other of these members in adisenga'geablei manner. *It may be disengaged by withdrawing its tongue 20 from the notch 21 far asfa' finger pivoted'on -a' fulcrum pin-23" which: is mounted on'the setting ring near enougli the timing 'disk to rotate V sin thedirection of thearrow,

men-t 'withJthe-timingdisk, and being dis-r V lnsteadofflbeing so formed as normally to be held by own strength in 'engageengaged therefrom by centrifugal force, as r to cause its free endto'lie againstthe inner 'is thecase With types of coupling hereto-' 'forefknown, this coupling 18 is preferably t formed with a'permanent set'which tends;

surface of the' setting ring,-Tor 'atleast tol 7 V occupy a positioniwherein the tongue 20 is 7 u withdrawnfrom the notch 21 farenough to permitthe timing 'disk to-turn. It re, e

V couplingiinto engagement with the timing quires exertion of material'force to shiftthe disk in' the position'which it is'shown as 's r n Figs d 5 When placed; is in t pl d position, the-coupling i I. "s5;

there retained by a retainer 22, here shown the free end of the coupling, so that its end jacent surface ofthe ring-when the coupling is engaged as described. wThisretainer has 7 also an -arm 24c proj'ecting from the op'posite side of its;fulcru1nfrom the finger22 and being of such massand its 'center'of gravity 1i so located that itc far oyerbalances the Vinay; pass between the' latter. and the ad-1- finger 22. When the finger is in the opera- 5 tive position 'where' it I retainsthe coupling as descr1bed,:. thls ,overbal'ancmg arm is raisedabove the upper. surface ofarib 25, 1 v 1 asshown inFig. 8. Thearm24'is so'formed-V asfto itslouter, surface. that" it may turn formed onthe interior of the setting'ring,

about the axis 123 freelyrwithin jthe surrounding; wallof the settingringJI may.

state that as a'i d'esirabledet'ail of menufacture,theaout'ersurface of this; arm is made with,aspherical-curvature, that-is as Q v the: segment -of a ;sphere' having the same radius 'asthe; adjacent surfaceofthe setting: a mnfand its. center in the axis-"of thisringf an whereby the-arm is enabled to vfit' closely against the adjacentsurface of the ring 11- [and also to turn freely, as:described;'v 7

"The, finger22 is beveled on the side next complementally; inclined surfaces I are pro-{ in handling the shell or accidentally dropping it, that is, byshocks substantiallylessseverethan that which results. from" l When'the shellfisfired the 'great'forceo'f' set back, due to inertia under" the shock off firing actinglon the overbalancing arm;24

t V 11*0' inline" with the axis of the pivot 23 Withdraws the finger 22 from the path of outward movement of the free end of the coupling, overcoming the yielding resistance caused by the spring tension of the coupling pressing theoverlapping inclined surface of shell may be, 'whetherit is a high velocity timing 1 7 small caliber shell or a larger caliber shell 'of the same or lower velocity, which spins at a slower rate than the small caliber shell; and disablement of the retainer, which perm'its this disengagement of the coupling, is altogetherautomaticand is effected by the force of set back.

- The purpose of the retainer 22 is to hold the disengageable coupling in secure engagement with the member from which it'is disengageable, whereby such coupling is made certainly effective to transmit adjusting movements in either direction, overcome ing the more or less conslderable frictional resistance to movement of the timing member about its driving staff 14; and to leave the coupling free to be disengaged when withdrawn or displaced, and so disabled for its holding function, by set back. This purpose is likewise served when the retainer is used in connection with 'a coupling which is not under stress tending always to disengageit but is resiliently held in engagement and is of such easily flexible character, or otherwise so lightly held, that it may be disengaged by centrifugal force of relatively low intensity and so may not be in instelf so stifi or rigid as is necessary for effecting adjust ments of the timing member under all conditions. Therefore I do not necessarily limit the present invention to the combination with a coupling under stress tending constantly to become disengaged, but include Within my claim to protection a retainer for the purpose indicated in connection with a coupling of any character with which it may be used, between an adjustable member and a setting member. Neither do I limit such claim to a retainer for this purpose which is movable by set back only, instead of by other forces operating when the shell is fired, or to one which ,is moved angularly about a pivot; but include a retainer of any form movable in any manner and having essentially the purpose,

7 :function, and result set forth.

What I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination in a time fuse with an adjustable timing member, an adjustable setting member, and a coupling between said members under stressconstantly tending to cause its disengagement from one of them, of a retainer for holding said coupling in engagement with such member, said retainer being arranged to release the coupling upon firing of the projectile to which the fuse is attached from a gun.

2. The combinationv as set forth in claim 1 distinguished by the fact that said retainer normally bears upon the coupling and is displaced from its position of bearing by forces set up upon firing.

The combination in a time fuse as set forth in claim 1 distinguished by the fact that said retainer is moved by set back so as thus to release the coupling.

4. The combination in a time fuse as claimed in claim 1 distinguished by the fact that said retainer is providedwith a finger normally bearing on the side of the coupling away from the memberwith which it is thus detachably engaged, and is adapted to be withdrawn from the path of that part of the coupling on which it sobears.

5. In a time fuse-the combination with a rotatable and adjustable timingdisk, a setting ring surrounding said disk and being rotatably adjustable, and a coupling carried by said ring and having a part engaged with said disk, such part being constantly urged out of engagement with thedisk, of aretainer carried by the setting ring having a finger adapted to be inserted. between the ring and that part of the coupling which engages the timing disk, and arranged to be withdrawn by inertia under the shock of firing.

6. In a time fuse the combination with a rotatabl timing member and a substantially coaxial setting ring, of a coupling consist ing of a spring strip secured atone end to said setting ring and having its free end formed to engage and withdraw from a part of said timing member, said free end being under stress tending always to withdraw it from such engagement, and a retainer mounted movably on the setting ring having a finger adapted to hold the movable part of said spring strip in engagement with the timing member, and a weighted part movable, by its inertia under the shock of firing so as to withdraw said finger from the position in which it thus holds the coupling strip.

7 A. time fuse combination as claimed in I gageable coupling between said members.

adapted to transmit moyements from the setting member to the timing member,whereby the latter may be adjusted, and ,a retainer transmitmovements from the settingmemher to the timing member, whereby the latter may be adjusted, ancl'a retainer for-holding said coupling engaged and being mov-V ably mounted toibe' withdrawnindepend ently of movementfofthe coupling'from holding position by its inertia-under the shock otfiring, the coupling ancl retainer having resiliently contacting 5 overlapping shoulders arranged to resist withdrawal of ,the retainer by shocks ofmaterially less intensity than that of firing; j v n combination an 10. A time fuse having 1 7 adjustable timing member, a motor for driving the same, a setting member a coupling permanently connectedto the setting mem-' her and engageable in a separable manner with the timingmembenso formed as to that part which engages thelatter that 1 it is able to transmit adjusting movements from the setting to the timing member when so engaged, and a retainer mounted with a part so engaging the coupling as to holdit securely 1n engagement with the timing 'pling permanently connected to the. setting Qwea aa 1 of movement of the coupling by force acti ing when "the projectile to which the :fuse

coupling.

driving the same, a setting membery a (1011- member andengageable aseparable m'an nerwlth the timing member, so formed as to that part which engages the. latter-V'that it'is able to transmit adjusting movements fromithe setting to the timing member when V so engaged,- and a retainer mounted with; a

part. so engaging the coupling as 'to, hold it is attached is fired from a gun towithdraw 7 ,said part from such engagement with the j :11.- A time fuse having. in combination I an adjustable timing member, a motor, for l securely 1n: engagement with the timing member and being movable by force acting tached' isvfired from a gun to withdraw said when the projectile to "which the filS is; a

pling, the engaging partsi'of the'retaineif and couplmg bein'glove'rlapped 'aerossiand"- I l inclined to the pat partmoveslin.withdrawingfandnone ofisaid in 'whih, said-retainer parts being {constructed and arranged Pto yield. and permit such withdrawal'by the actionof such force, "but" preventing such 1 Withdrawal under applicationrof forcesg of fi i materially less intensity. r

In testimony whereof I 'afii xe f signature.

copies of this patent may be obtained torv five cents each, by addrssing the {Commissioner et ratents. i

a Washington, D.0.-C r 

